2026
2025 Awards Gallery

“No Es Ilegal”

I learned fear before math class,

before pencils, papers, pass or fail,

learned early that I had to be perfect fast

so sacrifice would not go stale.

Because fear has rules.

Fear has a test.

And I was taught

I had to be the best.

Straight A’s like armor,

awards like a shield,

every success a promise

that the pain was justified, sealed.

ICE at the door like we owe them a debt,

like my mother’s name is a criminal threat.

They say “illegal” like that’s all she’ll be,

pero no es ilegal existir.

My father is sweat in a midnight shift,

so I lift my goals, so I never slip.

He broke his back so I could stand tall,

so failure was never an option at all.

I chased perfection like it could protect us,

like honor roll could somehow deflect this.

Like trophies could stop a door from being kicked,

like success could make us immune to it.

They say, “Do it right, do it legally.”

I did everything right

still you threaten me.

I followed rules, lines, every demand,

still fear lives heavy in this land.

ICE speaks cold, speaks clipped, speaks law.

I speak pressure that locks my jaw.

Pressure to prove we deserve to stay,

to earn our lives every single day.

I grew up fast, grew sharp, grew aware,

grew into excellence born from fear.

I don’t chase dreams, I chase relief,

hoping achievement buys belief.

Every raid says this loud and clear:

Perfection will not save us here.

You want our work, not our names,

our success without our human pain.

You call it policy.

I call it scars.

You call it borders.

I call it bars.

Eso no es justicia, eso es control.

No GPA can pay that toll.

You cage our parents, crush our trust,

then ask why ambition turns to dust.

Say their name say it slow, say it right.

Say it knowing I did everything right.

They built your cities, cleaned your floors,

so I built a future you still ignore.

You fear immigrants, I see it now,

because we rise despite the how.

Despite the pressure, fear, and strain,

we still succeed through all the pain.

I won’t shrink my voice to earn my place.

I won’t outrun fear at a winning pace.

My worth is not a report card plea,

my family’s love is not conditional or free.

Mis padres belong.

Yo pertenezco aquí.

Say it with me

NO ES ILEGAL EXISTIR.